West Pennine Moors

The West Pennine Moors are a broad expanse of upland heath, blanket bog and reservoir-studded valleys stretching between Bolton, Blackburn, Chorley and Bury. Rising to just over 450 metres at Winter Hill, they form a distinctive skyline north of Bolton and can be reached directly from the village of Belmont at the end of the 535 bus route.

The moors are criss-crossed by public footpaths and bridleways, including the Rotary Way long-distance route around Bolton. Walkers can strike out for Winter Hill and its television mast, drop down to reservoirs at Belmont, Delph or Turton and Entwistle, or explore the wooded valleys around Jumbles. Grouse, curlew, skylark and the occasional short-eared owl are all part of the moorland cast.

The landscape carries a strong human history too, from Bronze Age burial mounds and the site of the 1958 Winter Hill air disaster to the ruins of the 19th-century Two Lads cairn and remnants of the local bleaching and mining industries. Weather turns quickly at this height, so waterproofs, sturdy footwear and a map are sensible even for short outings.